On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act ("CARES ACT") was enacted. See CARES Act, PL 116-136, 134 Stat 281 (Mar. 27, 2020) (full text). The CARES Act impacts federal defendants and inmates in at least three important ways:
1. Expands the types of proceedings that can be conducted by video/telephone conferencing. See Sec. 15002 of the Act.
2. Expands BOP home confinment authority. See Sec. 12003(b)(2) of the Act.
3. Allows AG/BOP to provide free video/telephone visitation. See Sec. 12003(c)(1) of the Act.
Sentencing Resource Counsel has provided a helpful 1-page chart that summarizes the releavant provisions of the CARES Act that impact federal defendants and inmates. The Training Division is providing COVID-19 resources and materials, updated multiple times daily, to assist defenders and CJA panel attorneys understand and litigate issues releated to the COVID-19 pandemic.